Lieutenant Oleksandras Syščukas, commander of the fire support squad of the 3rd battalion of the 121st brigade, publicly addressed M. Drapatas.
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According to the Ukrainian defender, he and his comrades are currently assigned to the 2nd drone systems battalion of the 121st separate territorial defense brigade and are carrying out tasks in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
The lieutenant assured that he has already contacted various institutions seeking help, but so far has received no results. Therefore, according to him, the “only hope” at the moment is M. Drapatas.
O. Syščukas said that he and his comrades came to replace soldiers who had spent 8 months in positions without rotation. His brigade’s soldiers expected the rotation to last one month, as promised by the leadership. However, they have now been in positions for almost four months without breaks.
The lieutenant continued, saying that the leadership also assured him that in the front line sector where they defend positions, main and reserve positions were prepared. However, according to him, this turned out to be a lie.
“We were told that supply and logistics there were arranged and that everything was dropped to everyone by drones. That is also not true. Now we are hiding where we found shelter because all positions are destroyed. We have not received food and drinking water for three to seven days,” O. Syščukas explained.
According to him, soldiers are forced to drink their own urine to survive.
As O. Syščukas said, their relatives and the 3rd battalion leadership were allegedly informed that the soldiers were supplied with everything they needed. However, according to him, their group receives less food and water than other units.
“I have made the decision that if favorable circumstances arise, my soldiers and I will leave the positions without waiting for relief because we have neither the strength nor the means to stay in the positions. We do not refuse to serve, but we have no other choice. We ask to provide a corridor for safe exit from here and transport for evacuation,” O. Syščukas addressed M. Drapatas.
How the brigade leadership reacted
In response to the published video, the brigade leadership assured that they are doing everything possible to properly supply the soldiers.
“Food, medicine, and other necessary items are delivered by drones to hard-to-reach positions according to a set schedule. In a month, 27 packages weighing about nine kilograms each were delivered to the unit,” the statement said.
Nevertheless, representatives of the leadership admitted that the situation in this sector remains extremely difficult due to unfavorable weather conditions, Russian troops’ attacks, and enemy electronic warfare measures. It is said that this is precisely what hinders timely and undamaged delivery of supplies.
“The information presented in the video appeal does not reflect all circumstances. At the same time, we report that the brigade leadership is doing everything possible to carry out rotation as soon as it can be done safely without endangering the lives and health of soldiers. Currently, it is important not to expose defenders to additional danger during the transfer,” stated the leadership of the 121st brigade.
Considering recent events, it also asked not to make hasty conclusions and not to spread information without evaluating the full context.
